Most of the tit-for-tat actions over the past couple years have focused on mutual accusations of spying. Currently, Poland is threatening to shutter all Russian consulates on Polish soil over espionage and ‘terrorism’.

On Thursday Russia ordered the closure if the Polish consulate in St. Petersburg and told its diplomats to immediately leave the country, in the latest escalation.

“Three diplomatic staff members of the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in St. Petersburg have been declared persona non grata,” the Russian Foreign Ministry announced.

This move is being described as in retaliation for the prior closure of a Russian consulate in the Polish city of Poznan in the western part of the NATO country. The Kremlin has further cited Poland’s “openly hostile policy” toward Moscow as a reason behind the move.

Poland and EU states have accused Moscow of “intimidation, the instrumentalization of migrants, sabotage, disinformation, foreign information manipulation and interference.”

As for a potential new response from the Polish government, a statement has warned:

“If acts of diversion and terrorism continue, I will close down the rest of the Russian consulate presence in Poland,” Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told reporters after Moscow announced the closure of its St. Petersburg consulate.

On the military front, some Polish top officials have recently argued that the country’s military should be actively intercepting Russian missiles threatening Ukrainian territory, especially ones that fly close to Poland’s border in the region of Western Ukraine.

Poland has generally been among the most hawkish Western allies when it comes to escalating support to Kiev forces in Ukraine.

Poland’s ambassador to the UN Krzysztof Szczerski has compared Russia’s abductions of Ukrainian children to the “worst crimes” of WWII https://t.co/DCAGlDB1Wr

— Radio Poland (@thenews_PL) December 5, 2024

Warsaw has throughout the conflict played host to a build-up of Western weapons along NATO’s ‘eastern flank’ – and Moscow has especially been alarmed that US missiles have been placed in northern Poland in the Baltic Sea region.

I have no idea what Flav was doing at the tree lighting. He just shows up places, and that’s kind of the fun of Flavor Flav.

A couple of years ago, I was watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and they showed the crowd at Herald Square, and I thought, “That dude in the Milwaukee Bucks jacket looks like Flavor Flav.”

That dude in the Milwaukee Bucks jacket was Flavor Flav.

So, it’s not unusual for him to show up at an event like this, but according to The New York Post, Flav claimed in since-deleted tweets that NBC didn’t want him anywhere near the Backstreet Boys (can we change their name to Backstreet Men now that they’re all like 50?). […]

— Read More: www.outkick.com

It’s not a secret to OutKick readers that I’m a big fan of the military, military history, Special Operations, Delta Force, SEAL Team 6 and all the other people who operate in the shadows.

There are a lot of men out there kicking in doors and taking the fight to the enemy, and the public has no idea they exist. If that’s not badass, then I don’t know what is.

Vintage Delta Force photo goes viral.

While most stories about Delta Force and the operators who make up The Unit, there is stuff that trickles out from time to time, and it’s always worth checking out.

JSOC Archive is a very popular subreddit, and it recently started an Instagram page to share photos of men from the world of Special Operations. […]

— Read More: www.outkick.com

Throughout his distinguished career, Kash Patel has consistently prioritized transparency, accountability, and the safety of our nation. As a federal prosecutor, he worked alongside law enforcement to dismantle international drug trafficking organizations, combat violent crime, and bring dangerous offenders to justice. His tenure as a legal liaison to the Joint Special Operations Command further illustrates his ability to operate effectively in high-stakes environments, forging critical partnerships across federal, state, and local agencies.

In his role as Senior Counsel to the House Intelligence Committee, Mr. Patel showcased his dedication to ensuring the integrity of our nation’s institutions. By exposing misconduct and advocating for ethical oversight, he earned the trust and respect of countless law enforcement professionals. His experience as Chief of Staff to the Acting Secretary of Defense underscores his readiness to lead with integrity, strategy, and an unyielding focus on national security.

The law enforcement community knows that effective leadership at the FBI is essential for building public trust and enhancing coordination across all levels of policing. Kash Patel’s proven record of leadership, expertise in counterterrorism and intelligence, and ability to navigate complex legal and operational challenges make him the ideal candidate to restore faith in the FBI’s mission and ensure it remains a steadfast ally to our nation’s police forces.

We firmly believe that Kash Patel’s appointment as FBI Director will mark a pivotal moment for law enforcement and public safety across the United States. His leadership will bring a renewed focus on collaboration, ethical standards, and the relentless pursuit of justice.

The National Police Association strongly endorses Kash Patel and urges his confirmation as Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. We are confident that under his stewardship, the FBI will thrive in its vital mission to protect and serve the American people.

The National Police Association (NPA) is a nonprofit organization supporting law enforcement through advocacy, education, and law. For more information, visit NationalPolice.org.

Media Contact:
Betsy Smith
3024691765
387329@email4pr.com

SOURCE National Police Association

The giant Norway spruce, which this year hails from a tiny Massachusetts town, is also topped with a Swarovski star crown featuring 3 million crystals.

The 74-foot-high tree was cut down last month in West Stockbridge and trucked to Rockefeller Plaza. Wednesday night’s ceremony marked the culmination of the tree’s long journey to New York, which began in 2020 when the center’s head gardener spotted the tree and asked its owners if they’d consider donating it.

The famous holiday attraction, located above the Rockefeller Center ice skating rink, will be on view through mid-January. On Christmas Day, the tree will be lit for 24 hours.

Once the holiday season is over, the tree will be used for lumber for Habitat for Humanity. […]

— Read More: www.theepochtimes.com

Someone committed murder.

At least, according to George Strait and Alan Jackson when they sang “Murder on Music Row” in 1999.

“The almighty dollar and the lust for worldwide fame/Slowly killed tradition, and for that someone should hang.”

Classic country artists like Strait and Jackson consistently portray deeply American values like faith, family, and freedom overcoming human vices like drinking, gambling, and cheating. But as these artists age out, a cheap replica of “country” is rising in their place. […]

— Read More: thefederalist.com

Pete Hegseth is doing very well. His support is strong and deep, much more so than the Fake News would have you believe. He was a great student – Princeton/Harvard educated – with a Military state of mind. He will be a fantastic, high energy, Secretary of Defense Defense, one who leads with charisma and skill. Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!

Vance republished Trump’s endorsement and added notes of his own:

Led by President Trump, we’re fighting for Pete Hegseth. And we’re doing so because Pete Hegseth wil fight for our troops.

For too long, the Pentagon has been led by people who lose wars. Pete Hegseth is a man who fought in those wars.

We’ve got his back.

As I recently noted on my show, it’s incumbent on President Trump to say he’s backing his guy and RINOs that are subverting his nomination need to stand down. I got half of my wish.

Unless a GOP Senator can present compelling evidence that Hegseth is not qualified or capable, thye need to stand down and get in line.

"Trump Needs to Tell GOP Senators to Stop Derailing America's Team" pic.twitter.com/pbcU3nXX4h

— JD Rucker (@JDRucker) December 5, 2024

Rumors continue to circulate on legacy media that there are as many as 10 Republican Senators opposed to Hegseth. But outside of Senator Joni Ernst, none of these alleged dissenters have come out public to oppose his confirmation. As Trump would say, the attacks on Hegseth amounts to purely fake news.

Business leaders globally are worried about the risk of recession, labour shortages and rising inflation, despite some signs of improvement in economic conditions, a World Economic Forum survey said on Thursday.

Extreme weather events are an increasing concern, following a year of record temperatures, severe flooding and wildfires, including in major economies such as Brazil, Germany, Indonesia and the United States, according to the survey of more than 11,000 business leaders from G20 countries.

When asked to rank the top risks that they are facing over the next two years, business leaders actually ranked economic downturn number one…

Economic downturn is seen as the top risk for business leaders over the next two years, followed by labour and/or talent shortages and then inflation. Poverty and inequality ranked fourth, and extreme weather events came in fifth, the survey showed.

Business leaders tend to be relatively optimistic compared to the population as a whole, and so these results kind of surprised me.

Of course to many of us living in the United States, economic conditions are already so bad that it feels like a recession has already begun…

In August, roughly 60% of Americans said they believed the U.S. was in a recession, according to a survey from Affirm. Further, in October, more than half of Americans said they were worse off than they were four years ago, according to a Gallup poll.

If you are doing better than you were four years ago, you should consider yourself to be incredibly blessed.

Because the cost of living has been rising faster than paychecks have been, and so for most of us our standard of living has been steadily going down.

The Biden administration keeps telling us that inflation is under control, but the truth is that core consumer prices have risen for 53 months in a row…

The inflation story is far from over… no matter what The Fed or The White House claims…

For the 53rd straight month, core consumer prices rose on a MoM basis in October with the YoY pace re-accelerating to +3.33%…

Once upon a time, I actually enjoyed going to the grocery store.

But now it is so painful.

When I get to the register, I feel like asking the cashier what organ I should sell in order to pay for my groceries.

Sadly, we have reached a point where more Americans than ever are just barely scraping by from month to month. In fact, Bank of America is telling us that the proportion of the U.S. population that is living paycheck to paycheck rose by 12 percent from early 2022 to the second half of 2024…

However you define “paycheck to paycheck,” more of us seem to be living that way.

In the Bank of America surveys, the share of consumers who said they lived from paycheck to paycheck has gradually risen, from about 35% in early 2022 to 47% in the third quarter of 2024.

Obviously, economic conditions in this country have been trending in the wrong direction for quite a while.

So what will our country look like if we keep going down this path?

At this stage, more than 20 percent of all U.S. renters already have to use “all of their regular income” just to pay the rent…

Just over one in five (22%) U.S. renters say all of their regular income goes directly to paying their rent, according to a recent Redfin-commissioned survey.

Working a second job is also a fairly common way for renters to pay housing costs, with 20% of renters citing that method. Nearly the same share (19%) say they have worked a job they hated to afford rent.

The bottom levels of the economic food chain are getting absolutely crushed.

In a desperate attempt to stay afloat, many Americans are piling up staggering amounts of debt. According to the New York Federal Reserve, total credit card debt in the U.S. just reached another brand new all-time record high…

Michael’s new book entitled “Why” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.

Silverman made the comments in an interview with the Minnesota Star Tribune about her stand-up comedy tour. The interviewer asked her why she had not been as involved in the election as in previous cycles.

‘I told young Jews to tell their grandparents they wouldn’t visit them again unless they voted for Obama. I should have done something like that again.’

“A lot of people asked me if I was going to make a video or something. But my feeling was that no one wanted to hear from celebrities right now. Maybe I was wrong. I just focused on reposting thoughts from smarter people,” said the comedian.

“There is one thing I wish I had done. In 2008, I did something called the Great Schlep where I told young Jews to tell their grandparents they wouldn’t visit them again unless they voted for Obama. I should have done something like that again,” Silverman explained. […]

— Read More: www.theblaze.com

Now, I get having zero tolerance for actual firearms, for actual threats, and things of that sort. I may not necessarily agree with it, in part because I grew up in a time when people would go hunting in the morning before school and have their guns in a gun rack on the back window of their trucks, so my opinions might be skewed a bit.

Yet some schools have sought to punish kids for a lot of stupid reasons, including the aforementioned Pop-Tart. In particular, pictures on social media and other cases where they were disciplined for things that didn’t happen at school at all.

At least those cases involved someone trying to claim an implied threat. This case, though? This case is something else entirely.

Florida Carry, Inc., has filed a lawsuit against the Hillsboro County School District over its decision to suspend a high school student identified in their lawsuit only as “J.S.,” who officials claim brought three spent shell casings into one of their schools.

According to the pro-gun group’s lawsuit, school officials learned of the incident via a message sent to them on the FortifyFL app — a “suspicious activity” reporting tool that allows parents or other students to relay information to “appropriate law enforcement agencies and school officials.”

The school principal told a Hillsborough County Deputy Sheriff working at the school about the FortifyFL message. The deputy sheriff then searched J.S.’s backpack and conducted a pat down of the young student at around 8 a.m., November 21.

“The search revealed three expended metallic casing contained in a Ziploc bag, along with some spare change. The casings had been used while target shooting with J.S.’s parents on a recent excursion,” the lawsuit claims. “The expended casings did not contain any powder, projectiles, shot, bullets, wading, or live primers.”

The deputy sheriff told school officials that J.S. had committed no crime by possessing spent shell casings. The youth, the deputy said, had done nothing wrong. However, the principal ignored the deputy’s claims and called the student’s parents, who arrived about 40 minutes later. The parents were told to take their child home and wait for a phone call.

It seems, though, that because the parents “went to bat” for J.S., the kid caught a suspension because the principal is a vile piece of filth. OK, that last part was my interpretation, but tell me I’m wrong. […]

— Read More: bearingarms.com